# C_2008134EN.01004001.xml

| 31.5.2008 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | C 134/40 |
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31.5.2008

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

C 134/40

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Prior notification of a concentration

(Case COMP/M.5062 — Sofinco/Saracen/Forso)

Candidate case for simplified procedure

(Text with EEA relevance)

(2008/C 134/11)

| 1. | On 22 May 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Sofinco SA (‘Sofinco’, France), a wholly owned subsidiary of Crédit Agricole SA (‘CA’, France), and Saracen HoldCo AB (‘Saracen’, Sweden), a wholly owned subsidiary of FCE Bank plc controlled by Ford Motor Company, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Forso Nordic AB (‘Forso’, Sweden) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture. |
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1.

On 22 May 2008, the Commission received a notification of a proposed concentration pursuant to Article 4 of Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (1) by which the undertaking Sofinco SA (‘Sofinco’, France), a wholly owned subsidiary of Crédit Agricole SA (‘CA’, France), and Saracen HoldCo AB (‘Saracen’, Sweden), a wholly owned subsidiary of FCE Bank plc controlled by Ford Motor Company, acquire within the meaning of Article 3(1)(b) of the Council Regulation joint control of the undertaking Forso Nordic AB (‘Forso’, Sweden) by way of purchase of shares in a newly created company constituting a joint venture.

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| 2. | The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:






  — | for Sofinco: consumer financing, |
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2.

The business activities of the undertakings concerned are:

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for Sofinco: consumer financing,

| — | for CA: banking, private banking, financial services, life and non-life insurances, |
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for CA: banking, private banking, financial services, life and non-life insurances,

| — | for Saracen: holding company of Ford Motor Company, which manufactures and distributes motor vehicles, |
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for Saracen: holding company of Ford Motor Company, which manufactures and distributes motor vehicles,

| — | for Forso: financing and administrative services. |
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for Forso: financing and administrative services.

| 3. | On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice. |
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3.

On preliminary examination, the Commission finds that the notified transaction could fall within the scope of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004. However, the final decision on this point is reserved. Pursuant to the Commission Notice on a simplified procedure for treatment of certain concentrations under Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 (2) it should be noted that this case is a candidate for treatment under the procedure set out in the Notice.

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| 4. | The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.
  Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5062 — Sofinco/Saracen/Forso, to the following address:





  European Commission |
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| Directorate-General for Competition |
| Merger Registry |
| J-70 |
| B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel |

4.

The Commission invites interested third parties to submit their possible observations on the proposed operation to the Commission.

Observations must reach the Commission not later than 10 days following the date of this publication. Observations can be sent to the Commission by fax ((32-2) 296 43 01 or 296 72 44) or by post, under reference number COMP/M.5062 — Sofinco/Saracen/Forso, to the following address:

European Commission

Directorate-General for Competition

Merger Registry

J-70

B-1049 Bruxelles/Brussel

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(1)  OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1.

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(2)  OJ C 56, 5.3.2005, p. 32.

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